Lex Luger Opens Up About The Difficulties Of Slamming Yokozuna In 1993

WWE Hall of Fame 2025 inductee Lex Luger has looked back on one of the most unforgettable moments of his career, the night he body slammed the massive Yokozuna aboard the USS Intrepid.

In an interview with Monopoly Events, Lex Luger reminisced about the beginning of his major WWE push in 1993 and the immense challenge of lifting Yokozuna, who weighed an astonishing 627 pounds at the time.

On 4 July 1993, WWE staged a special event on the aircraft carrier, where Yokozuna and his manager, Mr Fuji, issued an open challenge to any athlete willing to attempt the seemingly impossible feat. One by one, competitors from various sports stepped up, only to fail in their attempts. Then, in a dramatic and patriotic moment, Luger arrived by helicopter, stepped into the ring, and, after a moment of struggle, successfully lifted and slammed the colossal champion, igniting his WWE push.

Luger recalled discussing the challenge with Yokozuna before the event, expressing concerns about performing the move while wearing cowboy boots, which provided little grip on the ring canvas.

“I told Yokozuna, ‘We can’t do it, I’m on ice skates, I got no footing,’”

Luger revealed. However, Yokozuna, known for his remarkable agility despite his size, reassured him.

“And Yoko, he goes, ‘No problem, brother, I got this, just get a wide stance.’ So he almost basically slammed himself, he was that agile. Those island boys could go, they could really go.”

Who Does Lex Luger Want To Induct Him Into The WWE Hall Of Fame?

Lex Luger spoke about who he wants to induct him into the WWE Hall of Fame and said that he is hoping that he can have two people induct him into the prestigious Hall of Fame. Luger has spoken in the past about wanting Sting to induct him, but he has not spoken about who the second person could be.

H/t to ITRWrestling.com